Berry Obsessed

Since the semester has finished and I find myself lost without the constant tick on my mind to either study or finish a last minute assignment. I have been going out, for dinners and nights out with my friends which is a nice change to the usual weekends snuggling up into my toy story jim jams and binge watching tv shows and disney movies.

But I noticed that I have reached out to the same lipstick over and over again. Something that's new to me anyways and just the perfect amount of vampiness a gal like me can handle. I'm talking about the highly coveted {did I use that word right?! PAH-english tho}, MAC Rebel.

Swatch with one layer in artificial lighting bc gurl cannot catch the sun

MAC Rebel looks beautiful in the tube like a boysenberry shade but when actually on the lips, it translates to an even prettier deep purple wine with slight fuchsia tones. The formula is a satin finish which really lovely, it is creamy, sheeny and feels smooth on the lips while being decently opaque. This lipsticks staining power is unreal. I wore it to dinner and the only thing that happened was that it faded into a stain which praise the lord for no outer rim business going on! And I literally couldn't get the stain off when I went to remove it. I just gave up and woke up with berry lips.

I do love the versatility of this lipstick. I can easily get away with it slightly pressed into the lip to look like it's worn in. Or go full on with two lipstick layers to make it a deep purple wine. Either way, the shade goes really nicely with dark features {thank sweet lemondrops, I didn't want to regret this purchase} but I think it would look nice on anyone, it's just one of those shades. It does feather due to the formula as it's not matte but I don't mind - it just means swooping in with a lip liner beforehand.

Also can I say this lipstick paired with cool toned shadows, a flick of liner and big lashes is just ٩(♡ε♡ )۶.  yas.

Have you tried MAC Rebel? Or have any dupes that you love?
xx

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Getting Carried Away at MAC

On the weekend, I treated myself with a unnecessary shopping spree to congratulate myself on finishing Uni. Now.. I'm not going to lie but I got a bit carried away at the MAC counter because I literally get overwhelmed with the choices they give me and I CAVED!

I picked up three lipsticks. T H R E E. {madness}. 

The first one that caught my eye from the bullet was Lovelorn which is a lustre finish. I am a big fan of MAC's lustre finishes because I think they look so natural for every day use. They are sheer and have just enough sheen to it to look like you have put effort into your face. Lovelorn is described by MAC as an "Emotive Blue Pink" which I have to agree, it's a medium blue toned pink. It really is the perfect pink for me and I never thought I would love a pink lipstick so much in my life.

The next one that purchased was Hot Gossip which is described by MAC as a "Mid Toned Pinky Plum" with a cremesheen formula. First off, the colour is beyond incredible! It's a really natural pink shade that has obvious plum undertones. It can be applied sheer, has a sheeny finish and is buildable. It is a more bold {darker} "my lips but better shade". This is the first lipstick I own with a cremesheen formula so I'm not extremely confident with explanations. But from my experience, it glides on smoothly and fades nicely because the colour is so light.

The last lipstick that I purchased was Brave which is described by MAC as "A muted pink-beige with a very subtle white pearl overtone" with a satin formula. On first swipe, Brave is more pigmented then the other lipsticks that I bought because of the formula. The shade is soooo different to anything I own already as it is a mauve pink with hints of brown making it what some would say the perfect 90s lip shade {the trend you either love to love or love to not love}. 

I also picked up a blush from the permanent line in Mocha which is a "soft plum-pink" according to MAC. I would have to agree that it has plum undertones in the pan, but when swatched "Mocha" is more of a natural pink. It has a matte finish which is kinda scary to me as nearly all my blushes have some sort of shimmer to them. But this blush is ohsoooo lovely! The neutral pink colour is just perfect for my skin tone, it warms up my face and because it is matte, it looks so much natural during the day {if you don't go overboard with it bc girl this blush is crazy pigmented}.

Left to right: (Lipsticks) Lovelorn, Hot Gossip, Brave & Mocha (Blush)

Overall, I would have to say that I am pleased with all these purchases. My favourite purchase is definitely "Lovelorn" because it is the perfect pink lipstick for my skin tone! I can't wait to experiment more with these lipsticks as they are all so pretty. PINKS ARE MY WEAKNESS.

What's on your MAC lipstick wish list?!

xx

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MAC Alluring Aquatic Collection

When it comes to MAC collections, I rarely get excited about them because sometimes they are so similar to the permanent collection. When I found out about the Alluring Aquatic Collection, my heart skipped a beat and I knew that this was the MAC collection for me. If the packaging alone didn't reel me in, the shades in the collection are so incredibly beautiful! {BUT THAT PACKAGING THO} I honestly tried to get my hands on most of the collection because I don't own similar shades but holy moly it was next to impossible to track them down due to being sold out like everywhere! So here are the things I managed to pick up from the collection.

I bought three eyeshadows in such unusual shades which let's be real.. is going to be a struggle as a neutral eye gal like me to pull off. I picked up "Sea Worship" which is a Tarnished olive, "Fathoms Deep" which is a deep blue and "Silver Sun" which is a mid tone dirty sea foam green. All of them are the MAC extra dimension formulas making them really pigmented, blend able and long wearing. They look incredible on! They have this certain sheen to it that changes slightly in different light, just beautiful! I haven't mastered how to wear "Silver Sun" because it's such an unusual and spring time colour! I would definitely wear "Fathoms Deep" as a smokey eye but it looks just as good by itself too. "Sea Worship" feels more like a muted gold which is actually really natural looking and the most wearable out of all the shades I bought.

Aside from the beautiful eyeshadows, I also managed to pick up an extra dimension blush in the shade "Sea Me, Hear Me" which is described by MAC as a beige pink. It's just so soft and buttery when you apply it! I don't even know how to describe the shade of this blush because it really looks like pink in the pan but swatches on my arm like a sheer coral? IS IT JUST ME!? Either way, it's still a lovely shade to wear that has some sheen to it but it's not like disco central on my cheeks. Love it!

Left to Right: Sea Worship, Fathoms Deep, Silver Sun and Sea Me, Hear Me.

I won't be shopping at MAC for a while after this splurge but THAT PACKAGING WAS SO WORTH IT! I mean, it has fake little water droplets on it??! If that won't reel mermaid lovers in, I don't know what will!

Did you manage to pick up anything from the Alluring Aquatic Collection?
xx

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MAC Eyeshadow: Gleam

Over the last couple of months I have been hoarding this MAC eyeshadow in my drawer and I could tell it was getting a little lonely so I pulled it out a couple of weeks ago and have been using it every so often. MAC describes "Gleam" as a barely pinked gold which I would call somewhat accurate. In the pan "Gleam" looks quite pink with golden specks of glitter and on the eyes I found it too look quite champagney. 

I'm still iffy about the formula, "Gleam" is a Lustre with chunky glitters. The pigmentation of this eyeshadow is pretty weak for a MAC eyeshadow but that could just roll down to the formula - it has a rather dry texture and I find it quite difficult to apply and blend. I definitely have to build up the colour with various layers and I'm sad to say that there is some fall out with this shadow because of the glitter.

Nonetheless, it's still a gorgeous colour and my favourite way to wear this eyeshadow is with "Sable" on the outer half of the lid with some black liner {red lips optional}

Overall the colour of this shadow is absolutely amazing, though I wish it wasn't full of chunky glitters. I'm not a major MAC junkie {just yet ;)} and I'm still trying to get used to which shadows look best and work well with me and unfortunately "Gleam" wasn't my cup of tea but I'll still use it while I have it.

Whats your favourite eyeshadow finish from MAC?
xx

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MAC Lustering

After loving my last trip to MAC, I became obsessed with their lipsticks. In Januarys Melbourne trip, the MAC store in the city was calling me to buy another lipstick on the last day I was there. I stood there for ages trying to pick something that was an every day pink lipstick and that's when I found "Lustering".

I was so excited when I swatched "Lustering" on my hand because it just was the perfect pink lipstick in my opinion. MAC describes it as an "outspoken pink" but I think it looks like a watermelon shade on the lips. I usually am scared with pink MAC lipsticks because they are usually too bright and bold or too bubblegum pink and then when I found this one I knew I had to have it. "Lustering" is a lustre which is my favourite finish from MAC because they are sheer but build-able making them so much more versatile. I didn't find one layer very pigmented so I just kept swiping until I got it to the colour that I wanted. As it is a lustre finish the lasting power isn't that great but that's what is to be expected with balmy type lipsticks.

I really love the colour of this lipstick. I like that it's really easy to apply and feels lightweight on my lips. I have been wearing this quite a bit lately because it is a very summery shade without being over the top.

Have you tried MAC's Lustering?
xx

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Valentines Day Beauty Picks

With Valentines Day right around the corner I thought I would share some of the products that I am considering to use to create a simple and sweet makeup look. As it is Valentines Day of course a lot of the products will be pink {oui so girly} I was considering throwing in some reds but I think pink is much more natural and suits the looks I'm going for.

Eyes:

For eyes, I'm going to keep it very simple with this MAC Eyeshadow Quad in "Showstopper" which is  really lovely on. Obviously with a quad you can create many different combinations but I'm just going to use all of them and add winged eyeliner and then mascara. If you're more daring, I would suggest deepening the crease with the darker shade and adding more sparkle, voilà. 

Cheeks:

Another way to incorporate pink into a look is by lightly applying pink blush. I didn't want to go crazy with dark pink blushes so I picked a couple that are sheer but build-able to create a fresh and subtle feel. One of my picks is the Physicians Formula Happy Booster Blush which has a variety of colours that you swirl around to create one glowing colour on your cheeks. The other is the Benefit's Boxed Blush in Dandelion which is the perfect ballerina pink shade to really give natural colour to the face.

Lips:

This is the fun and yet really frustrating part because I have so many different shades of pink lipsticks, lip glosses, etc. that it seems impossible to choose just one. That's why I narrowed it down to some of the lip products that I think would complete this look. The first being a MAC lipstick in "Sweetie" which is a Lustre finish and it's sheer and gives a nice sheen. The second is a Rimmel Apocalips Lip Lacquer in "Celestial" which is a dusty rose colour and is my favourite out of the whole Apocalips range. The third is a Maybelline Colorsensational Lipstick in "Born with it" which is a sheer light pink lipstick which is perfect for a simple Valentines Day look.

And these are some of the products that will be gracing my face this Valentines Day.
What are your picks for Valentines Day?
xx


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MAC Stroke of Midnight Eye Bag: Nude

I purchased a Stroke of Midnight set from MAC not too long ago and I can't believe I have waited so long to talk about it. Unfortunately it is limited edition so I'm not entirely sure if they are still stocking this set. MAC had a whole range of different sets to choose from and I decided on getting the Stroke of Midnight Eye Bag in the colour Nude.

The bag is black with a white geometric pattern finished off with gold piping and I absolutely LOVE it because it looks so sleek and classy. It's the perfect size for my bag and I could even use it as a purse for when I go out [HAAAAAAH}.

In the bag I got a Pro Longwear Paint pot in "Utterly Becoming" which is creamy pinky-beige and I have been using this every time I do my makeup because its such a natural colour that I use it under shadows as a primer to make the colours stand out more or I use it on the lid on its own. I like to think of it as a matte version of "Naked Lunch" WHICH IS MY FAVOURITE!!

I also got a Fluidline in "Past Twilight" and MAC describes it as a blacked plum and in the pot it looks brown toned with a hint of purple. I always use black eyeliner and I recently dipped my toe into using other colours {ahem, okay it was just brown but still..}. I think this Fluidline offers a more softer look than a harsh black gel liner.

To apply both of these products, there is a Double-Ended 209 Eyeliner/ 239SE Eye Shader Brush which is handy. I haven't used it too much because I found that it was easier to apply the Paint Pot on my lids with my fingers. The 209 Eyeliner part of the brush is a thin tip rather than some eyeliner brushes I have at home which have a rounder shape.

There is also the Extreme Dimension Mascara which I have not opened yet because I have WAY too many mascaras that are open at the moment - I would rather use all of them up before opening a new one. From reviews I read, the brush is very prickly and is supposed to create both volume and length.

Did any of you manage to pick up any of the MAC Stroke of Midnight Sets?

xx

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Best of Beauty 2013

Happy New Year you beautiful little buttercups! Wishing you all the best for 2014! 

I thought I would share all the beauty products that I have discovered and loved in 2013. All of these are products that I use regularly

Face:

At the end of 2012 and during 2013 my skin was out of control. I had really severe acne and it was really difficult to cover up because it was very noticeable. Then I decided to ditch all the drugstore foundations and concealers and invested in something that actually cover them up. I decided to try Clinique's Anti-Blemish Solutions Concealer and their Liquid Foundation. omg, best decision I've ever made because the concealer was full coverage and covered up all the dark spots from my acne and the foundation evened out my skin tone and added more coverage. Towards the end of 2013, my skin has cleared up however I still have dark scars on my face which I need to cover up so I found the L'oreal True Match Concealer which covers them all pretty well and I use the Bourjois Flower Perfection Foundation on top to even out my face. I use this foundation every time I go to work because it's very light and then I top it off with the Boujois Healthy Balance Unifying powder. I only work at a supermarket so I don't have to worry to much about covering up everything.

Eyes:

The Revlon Grow Luscious Mascara is my absolute favourite mascara and was discovered in my mum's makeup bag. It's the only mascara that gives me both volume and length as well as being waterproof and not hurting my eyeballs when I've had it on all day. Also in 2013 I got my first MAC eyeshadow and it was "Naked Lunch" and I couldn't have picked out a better colour to start out with .I wear it every time I go out during the day because it's such a subtle pink and looks so natural. 

Lips and Nails:

My lips have gone through the worst in 2013. They have been extremely dry and gross so I've had to put my lipsticks back on the shelf and invest in some lustrous lip balms, glosses and lip butters. I found the Maybelline Color Whipsers {colour shown is "pink possiblilities"} and I love the whole collection. It's perfect for when I go out because they moisturise my lips whilst giving some colour. The same thing applies to the Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm {"pink blossom"}, it gives a more natural look compared to the Color Whispers. 2013 has been the year where I have always had my nails painted and the colour that I have been wearing the most is "Misty Jade" from the I Love Lasting Finish by Rimmel which is a bright tiffany blue sort of colour.

What have been your favourite products of 2013?

xx

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MAC Lady Danger

I picked up one of MAC's infamous lipsticks"Lady Danger" last week and I am absolutely in love with the colour."Lady Danger" is described by MAC as a vivid bright coral-red and I would definitely say that their description is somewhat accurate.  Its definitely not your average-joe red lipstick - you can clearly see that it has orange undertones but it's not too strong. This colour is so unusual but I love it because it instantly lifts my face and is so different from the other red lipsticks I own.

I'm going to be honest when I sat that I was rather afraid of trying a matte lipstick because I didn't know what was going to happen with my chappy lips. However, I pulled up my big girl socks and decided to give this matte lipstick a go and I was amazed with how pigmented it was with one swipe. I prepped my lips beforehand and then applied this lipstick {straight from the bullet or with a lip brush - whatever you prefer} and I was really impressed with the formula. It lasted a good 5 and half hours with light eating but I ended up with that weird outer red ring on my lips so touch ups are a must with this lipstick. I also noticed that I was checking the mirror more than I usually do because I thought it was going to smudge all over my face and I would end up looking like a clown so I would recommend using a lip liner to keep it from feathering.

I do love a bold lip colour and "Lady Danger" is right up my alley. As much as I love this colour, I haven't found a time to wear it during the day but I think I might start to make an exception for this lipstick because I absolutely LOVE it.

xx

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